Official definition
- Use it to
- Set terms, scope, rules, or policy
- Minimum proof
- Standard, regulator, product owner, maintained primary documentation
- Failure mode
- Treating a summary or search snippet as the authority
Reference taxonomy
Match the source to the claim.
A fan-out branch does not automatically need another article. It may need a specification, test, dataset, expert, correction log, or no publication at all.
Nine roles
Evidence has a job before it has a format.
Primary specification
- Use it to
- Verify current capabilities, limits, prices, or requirements
- Minimum proof
- Vendor documentation, public tariff, release note, contract, schema
- Failure mode
- Mixing dates, plans, markets, or versions
Firsthand evaluation
- Use it to
- Show what happened under stated conditions
- Minimum proof
- Named reviewer, method, date, setup, observations, raw notes where lawful
- Failure mode
- Calling an unrepeatable impression a test
Reproducible test
- Use it to
- Distinguish causes or verify behavior
- Minimum proof
- Inputs, environment, steps, expected result, observed result, limitations
- Failure mode
- Reporting one green run as universal proof
Original dataset
- Use it to
- Measure a bounded population
- Minimum proof
- Collection method, fields, sample, exclusions, license, version
- Failure mode
- Publishing percentages without a denominator
Qualified expert
- Use it to
- Interpret a domain with accountable judgment
- Minimum proof
- Named expertise, scope, conflicts, evidence trail
- Failure mode
- Invented authority or anonymous AI synthesis
User evidence
- Use it to
- Understand real jobs, constraints, and language
- Minimum proof
- Consented interviews, support themes, surveys, Search Console or analytics context
- Failure mode
- Retaining confidential inputs without purpose and consent
Decision method
- Use it to
- Make trade-offs explicit
- Minimum proof
- Criteria, weighting, disqualifiers, date, reviewer, counterexamples
- Failure mode
- Declaring a universal winner
Correction log
- Use it to
- Keep the result current and accountable
- Minimum proof
- Version, change, reason, evidence, reviewer, date
- Failure mode
- Silently rewriting the method
Working rule